Systems, devices, methods, and compositions including fluidized x-ray shielding compositions

Abstract

Systems, devices, methods, and compositions are described for providing an x-ray shielding system including a flexible layer including a support structure having a plurality of interconnected interstitial spaces that provide a circulation network for an x-ray shielding fluid composition.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An x-ray shielding fluid composition, comprising:
 a carrier fluid; 
 a first plurality of x-ray shielding particles disposed in the carrier fluid, each of the x-ray shielding particles having at least a first x-ray shielding agent and a second x-ray shielding agent, the second x-ray shielding agent having one or more absorption edges different from the first x-ray shielding agent; and 
 wherein the plurality of x-ray shielding particles includes glass beads each having a plurality of x-ray shielding agents within a glass material matrix. 
 
     
     
       2. The x-ray shielding fluid composition of  claim 1 , the first plurality of x-ray shielding particles further comprising a third x-ray shielding agent having one or more absorption edges different from the second x-ray shielding agent and the first x-ray shielding agent. 
     
     
       3. The x-ray shielding fluid composition of  claim 2 , the first plurality of x-ray shielding particles further comprising a fourth x-ray shielding agent having one or more absorption edges different from the third x-ray shielding agent, the second x-ray shielding agent, and the first x-ray shielding agent. 
     
     
       4. The x-ray shielding fluid composition of  claim 3 , the first plurality of x-ray shielding particles further comprising a fifth x-ray shielding agent having one or more absorption edges different from the fourth x-ray shielding agent, the third x-ray shielding agent, the second x-ray shielding agent, and the first x-ray shielding agent. 
     
     
       5. The x-ray shielding fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein the second x-ray shielding agent includes an x-ray mass attenuation coefficient different from the first x-ray shielding agent. 
     
     
       6. The x-ray shielding fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein the second x-ray shielding agent includes at least one k-edge having an energy level lower than at least one k-edge of the first x-ray shielding agent. 
     
     
       7. The x-ray shielding fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein the second x-ray shielding agent includes at least one k-edge or l-edge corresponding to an x-ray energy absorption minimum of the first x-ray shielding agent. 
     
     
       8. The x-ray shielding fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first plurality of x-ray shielding particles includes a plurality of elemental dopants within the glass material matrix. 
     
     
       9. The x-ray shielding fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first plurality of x-ray shielding particles includes a plurality of elemental dopants within the glass material matrix, the plurality of dopants forming the second x-ray shielding agent. 
     
     
       10. The x-ray shielding fluid composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a second plurality of x-ray shielding particles disposed in the carrier fluid, each of the second plurality of x-ray shielding particles including at least a third x-ray shielding agent having one or more absorption edges different from the second x-ray shielding agent and the first x-ray shielding agent. 
     
     
       11. The x-ray shielding fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first x-ray shielding agent and the second x-ray shielding agent includes at least one material that absorbs x-rays at one or more frequencies and fluoresce x-rays at one or more lower frequencies. 
     
     
       12. The x-ray shielding fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first x-ray shielding agent and the second x-ray shielding agent includes one or more SiO 2 —PbO-alkali metal oxide glasses, CaO—SrO—B 2 O 3  glasses, or boron-lithium glasses. 
     
     
       13. The x-ray shielding fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first x-ray shielding agent and the second x-ray shielding agent includes borated high density polyethylene. 
     
     
       14. The x-ray shielding fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first x-ray shielding agent and the second x-ray shielding agent includes at least one of C 10 H 8 O 4 , C 8 H 7 Cl, C 8 H 8 , poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polycarbonate (C 16 H 14 O 3 ), polyethylene, or ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene. 
     
     
       15. The x-ray shielding fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first x-ray shielding agent and the second x-ray shielding agent includes silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ). 
     
     
       16. The x-ray shielding fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier fluid includes a fluid material having one or more x-ray absorption edges. 
     
     
       17. The x-ray shielding fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier fluid includes a fluid material having one or more x-ray absorption edges different from the second x-ray shielding agent and the first x-ray shielding agent. 
     
     
       18. The x-ray shielding fluid composition of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more anti-flocculant agents. 
     
     
       19. The x-ray shielding fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the first plurality of x-ray shielding particles are coated with an anti-flocculant coating. 
     
     
       20. The x-ray shielding fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first x-ray shielding agent and the second x-ray shielding agent includes at least one of lead (Pb), lithium fluoride (LiF), tantalum (Ta), or tungsten (W). 
     
     
       21. The x-ray shielding fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first x-ray shielding agent and the second x-ray shielding agent includes C 2 F 4 . 
     
     
       22. The x-ray shielding fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier fluid includes a gas carrier. 
     
     
       23. The x-ray shielding fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier fluid includes an aerosol. 
     
     
       24. The x-ray shielding fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier fluid includes two or more immiscible liquids.